Al Ahli coach Marino Pusic rues missed chances in Sundowns defeat

19.09.26 FT FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns FC

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Al Ahli

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Al Ahli SC head coach Marino Pusic has bemoaned the lack of cutting edge in the final third following their 2-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

The back-to-back Asian champions fell to a brace from Nuno Santos, with the Portuguese playmaker scoring in either half, while Downs shot-stopper Ronwen Williams put the ball in his own net.

Notably, the Saudi Pro League outfit has now lost the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup for a second successive season, having also succumbed to defeat at the hands of 2025 African champions Pyramids FC last year.

Pusic, meanwhile, rues the missed chances in the latest defeat to Sundowns, stating that Al Ahli let the Brazilians off the hook and allowed them back into the game, which ultimately proved costly.

“I think we played a very good game today [Saturday] until 20 minutes in the second half. I think in general there was one team who should lead in the first-half with two or three goal difference - it was us,” said the Dutch trainer.

"And I think this game was actually a game of missed chances in the final [third] unfortunately. I think we gave them the momentum in the second half after 20 or 22 minutes, and they created something out of a free-kick. We suffered a little bit after that.

With his team selection against the Tshwane giants heavily criticized by the Saudi Arabian media, the 55-year-old mentor reiterated that his troops gave a good account of themselves, dispelling any form of criticism.

“I heard that you [Saudi media] are a fan of one of the players, so that's your right. I think we had a very good game until that moment, nothing special happened. We lost some initiative and at the end we conceded this goal,” Pusic added.

"And it has nothing to do with the changes, it only has to do with the moment that we needed to close the middle very fast. And you can always put the questions when one team is losing. I think it's not a correct question, I think it's not a correct one.

"This team is doing what we did tonight, how we played tonight and how we actually represented ourselves, you shouldn't put that question. There was one team who should make a big difference in the first-half and it was us.

Pusic, who also coached Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord, recently took over the reins at Al Ahli as he succeeded Matthias Jaissle, who left the Jeddah-based side for English Premier League club Newcastle United last month.

Hlayisani Magoro

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Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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